TREASURER'S RACE Hauger drops out of running
It's too late for the Republicans to put a challenger in the race.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County Treasurer John Reardon won't have opposition in the November general election.
Republican Douglas Hauger of Boardman quit the race to accept a job in Columbus, according to a letter sent to the board of elections.
Hauger couldn't be reached Friday to comment on his withdrawal. Hauger, who was an executive recruiter for KBK Management for 19 years, defeated Tyrone Peakes of Youngstown in the only Republican primary for a Mahoning County position in March. He lost a bid in November 2003 for Boardman township clerk.
Hauger dated his resignation letter Aug. 18, the last day Mahoning Republicans could have found a replacement for him.
"If he's got another opportunity, you can't fault someone for taking a job," said Mark Munroe, chairman of the county elections board and the Mahoning GOP vice chairman.
"It's unfortunate that John [Reardon] will go unchallenged. I'm sorry we didn't get the notice earlier. It's our goal to field candidates whenever we can. But for us to get another candidate that quickly would have been a challenge."
Munroe said he and other election officials simply forgot to tell The Vindicator about the letter. The letter was released to Friday to the press by Reardon, the incumbent Democrat, who got a copy Wednesday.
Other details
Reardon describes Hauger as intelligent, articulate and a person with solid business experience. Reardon said he would have enjoyed debating the issues with Hauger.
"However, I am confident that our re-election campaign would have been successful even with an opponent because I believe voters value our achievements during my tenure as treasurer," he said.
Reardon was appointed in January 1998 and ran for the remainder of an unexpired term to the position that November. Reardon was elected to a full four-year term in 2000.
Reardon is eyeing a 2006 bid for the 6th Congressional District seat should U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, the Lisbon Democrat currently holding that seat, opt to run that year for governor.
skolnick@vindy.com